Panel for use in photographing movie titles and the like



E. R. CLARK Nov. 27, 1951 PANEL FOR USE IN PHOTOGRAPHING MOVIE TITLES AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 1, 1949 INVENTOR fmesz E. (/a/% ATTORNEY5 Patented Nov. 27, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PANEL FOR USE IN PHOTOGRAPHING MOVIE TITLES AND THE LIKE 2 Claims.

My invention relates to a device for use in photographing titles for moving pictures, and the like.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a highly simplified unitary device for holdin strips or plates of lettering comprising a movie title, or the like, forwardly of a source of light,

so that a movie camera may be focused upon the lettering, for photographing it.

A further object is to provide a panel having a translucent pane therein to permit the passage of light, and means to support lines of lettering adjacent to the pane, so that each line of lettering may be adjusted longitudinally independently of the other lines.

A further object is to provide a novel lettering plate or strip having a transparent end portion or overlap, so that the individual letters of the words comprising the movie title may be adjusted, whereby the precise spacing of letters is obtainable.

A further object is to provide a panel for supporting the lettering strips in proper position, relative to a source of light and a camera, and including separate elongated longitudinally adjustable channels having transparent panes, arranged adjacent to the translucent pane of the panel.

A still further object is to provide a device of the above mentioned character which is compact, sturdy, neat and attractive in appearance, and relatively cheap to make.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent during the course of the following descriptions.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which line numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device for use in photographing movie titles, and embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a rear side elevation of a panel removed,

Figure 4 is a side elevation of a letter mounting channel removed,

Figure 5 is a side elevation of separate lettering strips or inserts removed, and,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the relationship of one letter mounting channel to the translucent pane of the panel.

In the drawings, where for the purpose of iilustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral I0 designates an elonated fiat horizontal support or base panel, upon which is mounted an upstanding electric light bulb l I, arranged near one end of the base panel. A suitable movie camera 12 is mounted upon the base panel ill and spaced longitudinally of the light bulb for a substantial distance, and pref erably having its lens in alignment with the light bulb.

Rigidly mounted upon the base panel Ill, between the light bulb H and camera I2 is an upstanding flat rectangular vertical panel [3, which may be somewhat wider than the base panel 10, so that it projects outwardly laterally of the camera, upon both sides of the camera for a substantial distance. The vertical panel [3 is arranged much closer to the light bulb ll than to' the camera l2, and is spaced slightly forwardly of the light bulb. The panel i3 is provided with a large rectangular opening M, which is elongated transversely to extend for substantially the entire width of the panel. The opening is arranged near the vertical center of the panel and its center is in alignment with the center of the light bulb H and with the axis of the camera lens, as shown. Rigidly mounted upon the rear side of the panel 5 3, adjacent to the top and bottom longitudinal edges of the opening M are transversely extending elongated horizontal re-' taining strips or bars [5, the inner opposed longitudinal edges of which are arranged flush with the upper and lower longitudinal edges of the rectangular opening 14, Figure 2. Formed in the rear face of the panel 13 adjacent to the top and bottom longitudinal edges of the opening 14 are shallow elongated narrow recesses 16 which extend for the entire length of the rectangular opening l4 and beyond the right hand end of the opening 14, Figure 3. A vertical end strip or bar I! is rigidly mounted upon the rear face of the panel l3 adjacent to its left hand end, Figure 3, and this bar I! abuts the adjacent ends of the retaining bars I5, as shown and has its imier side arranged substantially adjacent to the adjacent end of the rectangular opening [4. The retaining bars l5 overlap the shallow recesses It as shown, and a thin elongated rectangular sheet or pane is removably mounted within the recesses l6 and beneath the retaining bars [5, as shown. The pane I8 is arranged adjacent to and is adapted to completely cover the rear side of the rectangular opening 14, and is slidable longitudinally within the recesses l6 beneath the retaining bars 15 so that it can be removed by sliding it toward the right hand end of the panel l3, Figure 3. The

retaining bars i5 have their ends remote from the vertical bar H terminating inwardly of the adjacent end of the panel 13, and the shallow recesses l6 extend longitudinally beyond the adjacent ends of the retaining bars for termination at the inner vertical edge of an elongated vertical wedge bar I9, rigidly mounted upon the rear face of the panel I3 at its end remote from the bar II. The wedge bar 19 has its outer face 20 inclined, as shown in Figure 1 so that the adjacent end of the sheet or pane l8 will slide up and over the inclined face 20 for easy removal from the adjacent end of the panel.

The sheet or pane I8 is thin, as previously stated, and is somewhat flexible. It is preferably formed of some suitable plastic material, and comprises a central rectangular transversely elongated translucent portion 2|, provided with vertically equidistantly spaced narrow horizontal elongated opaque stripes 22, which may be formed with black paint, ,or the like. ,Near its opposite ends, the pane 18 has 1arg e,rectangular end-portions erstrips 2,3 and 24 whichyare opaque, andiwhich also may be formed with black paint. The translucent portion 2! is transversely shorter than the opening J4, and is adapted to be centeredbetween the opposite ends of the opening I4, although the entire pane orsheet 1.8 is adjustable longitudinally beneath the bars J5.

.Removably and longitudinally ladjustably mounted within the rectangular opening 14, and having their backs .slidably engaging the front faceof the pane [6, area plurality of separate elongated horizontal support channels 25. The channels 25 ,are arranged in vertical edge to edge sup posedrelat on, F gu es 1 a and e t n horizontally for the major portion of the length of the opening M, although the channels are somewhat shorter than the opening [4, so that they may be individually adjusted longitudinally within the opening ,M. The channels ,25 are somewhat longer than the translucent'p rtion ,2 I of the pane l8, and their opposite ends extend past the opposite ends of the portion .21. The channels 25 are preferablymouldedfrom a suitable imouldable plastic material, and comprise elongated fiat bottoms ;or plates 26,;and integral forwardly .extending longitudinal sides or retaining vflanges .21, which are curved ,in :transverse ,cross section, ,Figure ;2, so as to converge forwardly. Theopposite ends of the channels25 are openand the channels are straight. The bottomsor plates 26 of the channels have central elongated transparent portions or windows 28,;andtheend portions 29 of thebottoms 2.6, at oppositeends of the windows .28areopaque. The opaque end portions29 may beformedwithblack paint, or the like. The window 2.8,is of the same length as the translucent portion 2;! of the pane l8. An elongated wedge block or :strip 3.0 is adapted to enter between the top edge of :the opening l4 and the topside of the .uDpenmost channel 25 to retain ,all of the channels within the opening !4. Each channel is longitudinally adjustable within theopening ,l4,, so:tha.t different portions of the windows 2 8.can;be ,brought into registration with thetranslucent portion ,;2

Removably and longitudinally adjustably mounted within the channels 25'a-re thin rectangular flexible strips or letter inserts 31 ,preferably formed of photographic film, or-similar 111aterial. Inserts 3| are opaque and black,=-but have transparent portions, 32 inthe form of different letters of the alphabet arranged centrally, as shown. The inserts 3| alsohave narrow transparent end portions 32, and the end portion 32 of one insert may be overlapped by the opaque portion of the adjacent insert 31, so that the precise spacing desired between the letters can be obtained, through the longitudinal adjustment of the individual inserts 3| in the channels 25. Elongated rectangular opaque inserts or blanks 33 are also provided, for use between different words of the movie title or for spacing letters a greater distance apart than the length of one of the inserts 31. The blanks 33 have transparent end portions or overlaps 34 to facilitate their longitudinal adjustment with respect to adjacent inserts 3!.

The necessary number and arrangement of the inserts $1 and blanks 33 are assembled within the c hannels v25 as shown in Figures 2 and 4, to produce the desired lines of writing contained in amovie title or the like, to be photographed. The inserts 3| and 33 are adjustable within their channels ,;and each channel 25 is individuallyadjustable longitudinally. The inserts g3} and ,33 may be positioned adjacent to and forwardly of the windows 28, and the channels may bepositioned adjacent to and forwardly of the translucent section 2| of the pane l8. With this arrangement,,-an d with the light bulb ,I I glowing, light passes through the translucent portion 21 and through the windows 28. It also passes through the transparent letter portions 32, and through anyof the overlaps 32 and 34 whichare exposed. The opaque portions 23 and 24 of the pane i8, and the opaque portions 29 of thechannel, together with the opaque portions of the ine serts 3| and 33 will block out the light from'the bulb ll. Thus theletters of theworols to -;be;photorap ed a cl arly i um at d a d no the all luminatedspots-show through the panel [37.

The opaque vertically spaced stripes 2 2 of the pane 1-8 a disposed s th th y ove ap-substantially the top half of the windows 28 of the chann ls .F ur fi- Th we "halves of t W d ws 28 .a eexp se t i h e wa d y-of the r s uc n s on .Zl- D t the tran verse curvature of the inserts -:3I and :33 in assembly,

Fi r ;.2 itlhas ;-be.en found that the pr sence 1 of th r pes 2 :result1inidea1 illumination .of the words to be photographed by the camera l2.

,Adjacent to .the top and bottom edges of .the opening 4:4, and rigidly mounted upon the for.- ward :facelof the panel [53, are opposedhorizontal strips or bars 35 and :36, provided -in .their lower and upper edges respectively :with longitudinalhorizontalgrooves 3! for receiving atransparent alignment screen or mask, :not shown. This alignment mask has spaced vertical lines .to aid :in centering the .lines of lettering on the panel 1:3.

The forward face of the panel l3 may :have any desired ornamentation painted or otherwise applied thereto.

It is to be understood that the .form-of'the invention herewith shown and described is to I be taken as a preferred example of the :same,-and that :various changes in shape, sizeand arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the :spiritof the invention-orthe scope of the subjoined claims.

: Having thus described "my invention, I -claim:

1. A photographic .device for .use .in photographing symbols -comprising a panel adapted =.to be vertically interposed between a light source and a camera, said ,panel having an opening formed therein and adapted ,for longitudinal alignment with -;a :light ,source and a camera,

retainers disposed above and below the opening and mounted transversely on the side of the panel facing the light source, a flexible opaque sheet, having a transparent center portion, slidably mounted in the retainers and covering the opening, means vertically disposed on the panel transversely of the ends of the retainers for releasably retaining the sheet against longitudinal movement within the retainers, channel members disposed transversely of the opening, means for locking said channel members on the side of panel facing the camera and in vertically arranged and superimposed relation, transparent panels formed in the webs of the channels and flexible opaque inserts adjustably and detachably housed in the channel members and having transparent symbols formed thereon.

2. A photographic device for use in photographing symbols comprising a panel adapted to be vertically disposed in front of a light source and having an opening formed therein and adapted for longitudinal alignment with a light source, retainers disposed above and below the opening transversely on the side of the panel facing a light source, a flexible opaque sheet detachably mounted in the retainers and having a transparent opaquely lined center section, fixed bars vertically formed on the panel at the ends of the retainers for releasably retaining the sheet against longitudinal movement, channel members disposed transversely in the opening, means for locking said channel members on the opposite side of the panel in vertically arranged relation within the opening, said channel members being longitudinally adjustable and having transparent webs and flexible opaque inserts detachably housed in the channel members and having transparent symbols formed thereon, each of said inserts having a transparent side edge adapted to space the inserts apart and said inserts being positioned parallel to the webs of the channel members.

ERNEST R. CLARK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,120,876 Witz Dec. 15, 1914 1,749,961 Stock Mar. 11, 1930 1,841,026 Greenstone Jan. 12, 1932 1,904,457 Healy Apr. 18, 1933 2,009,262 Hetherington July 23, 1935 2,346,096 Whitaker Apr. 4, 1944 

